2.4.1. Biodegradation Evaluation

The high biodegradability of a film by reducing its time of degradation in the environment is an important property that the new packaging must have because it reduces environmental problems [28]. The biodegradation of CH and Ch-EPPE gel films is depicted in Figure 1A. The weight loss of the Ch-EPPE and control (ch-0% EPPE) gel films increased (*p* < 0.05). As the duration for ground dumping was extended to 3 weeks, the weight loss rapidly accelerated for all the films examined. After three weeks, the Ch-5% EPPE film had the maximum weight reduction of 48.61%, compared to 27.35% for the control film (Ch-0%EPPE). A similar tendency towards biodegradation was observed when Chinese chive root extract was added to the CH-based sheet [32]. The main finding of the biodegradation assessment in this study was that adding EPPE to CH films enhance biodegradability by creating new polymer composites and reducing the environmental load through rapid breakdown.

environmental problems [28]. The biodegradation of CH and Ch-EPPE gel films is depicted in Figure 1A. The weight loss of the Ch-EPPE and control (ch-0% EPPE) gel films increased (*p* < 0.05). As the duration for ground dumping was extended to 3 weeks, the weight loss rapidly accelerated for all the films examined. After three weeks, the Ch-5% EPPE film had the maximum weight reduction of 48.61%, compared to 27.35% for the control film (Ch-0%EPPE). A similar tendency towards biodegradation was observed when Chinese chive root extract was added to the CH-based sheet [32]. The main finding of the biodegradation assessment in this study was that adding EPPE to CH films enhance biodegradability by creating new polymer composites and reducing the environmental

**Figure 1.** Biodegradability evaluation of chitosan films incorporated with EPPE (**A**), total phenolic content (**B**), and scavenging activities of the EPPE films on DPPH and ABTS radicals (**C**). Different letters indicate significant differences (*p* < 0.05). Values are given as mean (*n* = 3) ± SD. **Figure 1.** Biodegradability evaluation of chitosan films incorporated with EPPE (**A**), total phenolic content (**B**), and scavenging activities of the EPPE films on DPPH and ABTS radicals (**C**). Different letters indicate significant differences (*p* < 0.05). Values are given as mean (*n* = 3) ± SD.

#### 2.4.2. Antioxidant Properties 2.4.2. Antioxidant Properties

load through rapid breakdown.

Total phenolic content (TPC) and two other types of tests were used to assess the synthetic films' antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). Figure 1 displays the results of the antioxidant activity. For active packaging sheets, TPC was utilized as a preliminary antioxidant evaluation [41]. Due to their capacity for free electron delocalization and H+ ion (of the hydroxyl group) donation, phenolic substances have been shown to have antioxidant action [42]. Figure 1B displays the TPC of CH edible films combined with EPPE. The findings revealed that as EPPE concentration increased, the total phenolic content of the CH films increased significantly (*p* < 0.05) (Figure 1B). In addition, CH films that did not have EPPE had a low TPC of 0.18 ± 0.003 mg GAE/g film. This finding may be explained by the generation of chromogens as a result of the Folin and Ciocalteu reagents reacting with non-phenolic reducing agents that may be identified spectrophotometrically [43]. Along with its phenolic components, EPPE's antioxidant action may also be attributed to other possible constituents, including the flavonoids that are present [25]. The DPPH and ABTS tests are therefore critically important in evaluating these components' antioxidant activity. As can be seen in Figure 1C, the CH- EPPE films' %DPPH radical scavenging was significantly (*p* < 0.05) greater than that of the pure CH films. The DPPH radical scavenging of the Ch-5% EPPE film was 49.71%, which was 4.83 times higher than that of the control (Ch-0% EPPE) film. The conclusions of the DPPH investigation followed a trend similar to the ABTS radical scavenging findings (Figure 1D). Films containing EPPE revealed significantly higher ABTS scavenging activity than the control (*p* < 0.05). The Total phenolic content (TPC) and two other types of tests were used to assess the synthetic films' antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). Figure 1 displays the results of the antioxidant activity. For active packaging sheets, TPC was utilized as a preliminary antioxidant evaluation [41]. Due to their capacity for free electron delocalization and H+ ion (of the hydroxyl group) donation, phenolic substances have been shown to have antioxidant action [42]. Figure 1B displays the TPC of CH edible films combined with EPPE. The findings revealed that as EPPE concentration increased, the total phenolic content of the CH films increased significantly (*p* < 0.05) (Figure 1B). In addition, CH films that did not have EPPE had a low TPC of 0.18 ± 0.003 mg GAE/g film. This finding may be explained by the generation of chromogens as a result of the Folin and Ciocalteu reagents reacting with non-phenolic reducing agents that may be identified spectrophotometrically [43]. Along with its phenolic components, EPPE's antioxidant action may also be attributed to other possible constituents, including the flavonoids that are present [25]. The DPPH and ABTS tests are therefore critically important in evaluating these components' antioxidant activity. As can be seen in Figure 1C, the CH- EPPE films' %DPPH radical scavenging was significantly (*p* < 0.05) greater than that of the pure CH films. The DPPH radical scavenging of the Ch-5% EPPE film was 49.71%, which was 4.83 times higher than that of the control (Ch-0% EPPE) film. The conclusions of the DPPH investigation followed a trend similar to the ABTS radical scavenging findings (Figure 1D). Films containing EPPE revealed significantly higher ABTS scavenging activity than the control (*p* < 0.05). The highest ABTS cation elimination (59.89%) was seen in the Ch-5% EPPE film as a result of its improved availability of antioxidant content. This increment was 4.40 times greater than the control group. When the antioxidant evaluations for the Ch-EPPE films were compared to one another, each antioxidant assay indicated a significant (*p* < 0.05) rise. This demonstrated how little the CH polysaccharide chain contributed to the antioxidant action [44].
